http://www.easylife.org/386dx/

386 DX

Although on the surface the music of 386 DX is undeniably humorous, the project uncovers a series of deeper questions about the complexities of authorship in the digital age. 386 DX was invented and developed by Alexei Shulgin in 1998. The “band” has “performed” over 40 concerts in various locations throughout Europe and the U.S., and also “plays” in public spaces as a street musician. Who, exactly, is 386DX? 386 DX is a computer, built by a hardware manufacturer, who plays songs written by famous groups, using software created by a third party company. So to what extent can Shulgin claim ownership of 386 DX? Does this project make him a musician or merely a technician? Is there a difference? Based on the evidence, it seems that Shulgin prefers to keep things ambiguous. He lists himself in the liner notes as ‘Operator’ and includes software on the CD which allows the user to create more 386 DX songs on her own. (texto: Noel Morrison)